Study reveals paradox of religious Americans

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America remains a nation of believers, but a new survey finds most Americans don’t feel their religion is the only way to eternal life — even if their faith tradition teaches otherwise — and MSU students said they felt the same.

The findings, revealed Monday in a survey of 35,000 adults, can be taken as a positive sign of growing religious tolerance or disturbing evidence that Americans dismiss or don’t know the fundamental teachings of their own faiths.

Among the more startling numbers in the survey conducted last year by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life are these: 57 percent of evangelical church-attenders said they believe many religions can lead to eternal life, in conflict with traditional evangelical teaching.

Nakul Shankar, a chemistry senior who said he believes in God but does not have one religious preference, said he felt similarly and believes people of different religions can find eternal life.

“People are looking for one way to answer the question of eternal life, but it’s more about doing good and having good morals,” Shankar said. “If those things are constant in your life, then eternal life can be reached if that is what you believe.”

In all, 70 percent of Americans with a religious affiliation shared that view, and 68 percent said there is more than one true way to interpret the teachings of their own religion.

Zain Shamoon, a psychology senior, said although some parts of his Islamic beliefs are not up for interpretation, he felt there are some aspects that can change with time.

“For example, if a person is following the Muslim religion, they may find different ways to complete their daily prayers,” said Shamoon, who was the outreach chair for the Muslim Students’ Association last year.

Finding places to pray on campus that abide by all Islamic teachings may be difficult for Muslim students, but some beliefs, such as not consuming pork, are spelled out in the Quran and therefore not open for interpretation, Shamoon said.

“The survey shows religion in America is, indeed, 3,000 miles wide and only three inches deep,” said D. Michael Lindsay, a Rice University sociologist of religion.

“There’s a growing pluralistic impulse toward tolerance and that is having theological consequences,” he said.

Earlier data from the Pew Forum’s U.S. Religious Landscape Survey, released in February, highlighted how often Americans switch religious affiliation. The newly-released material looks at religious belief and practice as well as the impact of religion on society.

The report argues that while relatively few people — 14 percent — cite religious beliefs as the main influence on their political thinking, religion still plays a powerful indirect role.

The study confirmed some well-known political dynamics, including divisions over abortion and gay marriage, with the more religious taking conservative views. It also showed support across religious lines for greater governmental aid for the poor, even if it means more debt and stricter environmental laws.

By many measures, Americans are strongly religious: 92 percent believe in God, 74 percent believe in life after death and 63 percent say their respective scriptures are the word of God.

Staff writer Katie Koerner contributed to this report.

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